The police has apologised over the arrest of the republican group

I slight deviation from the police. Having seen the photos of the banners etc being unloaded from van/s they looked like industrial quantities and were certainly packaged like that. I wonder where they were fabricated? Is there a factory producing items like that? How are they paid for and who pays?

Oh, no police brutality then? I expect the leader of Republic will argue otherwise.
The ‘most worrying thing’ for me is that people here would have been happy to let the arrested people just carry on and see what happened, despite the intelligence received. Thank goodness the British police so admired by fp did what they are supposed to do - keep the British public safe. And all those visitors from all over the world.

Germanshepherdsmum

British culture’ is irrelevant fp. What matters is the law.

Vague suspicion’? Oh dear. You would I assume have been happy to let these people carry on and see what happened - which could have been pretty bloody.

British Laws have allowed peaceful protest for a VERY long time- and have only been rushed through by Braverman.

If British culture is irrelevant, then I just don't know what to say!

I have heard the excuse for some of the protesters carrying rape alarms. Yeah, right.

From the twitter thread that few people will read

If you are conspiring to use a rape alarm to disrupt an event at midday, why would you go out the night before to give rape alarms to members of the public. Where is the logic? (Silly question, logic has nothing to do with policing).

And who were these "militant activists"? It turns out they were two women and one man. They were easy to spot, because they were wearing high-viz jackets. But not the orange jackets favoured by JSO. These were of the type worn by Westminster Night Stars.
(There was a picture of the said 'high viz jackets. Even had a police logo on them)

Wait, Westminster Night Stars? Who they? The latest incarnation of XR/Just Stop Oil? No.
Westminster Night Stars are NOT what the Mail call "eco-zealots". They're a group of people who patrol the streets of Westminster at night to help vulnerable people & make sure they're safe.

The police are well aware of Westminster Night Stars. They work with them and provide training. Those high-viz jackets even have Met Police branding. The police know that they're giving out rape alarms. The Home Office pays for the alarms.

twitter.com/ProfColinDavis/status/1655616447123529729

There were no other rape alarms. The police confiscated banners and luggage straps from Republic. No rape alarms. They have since returned them and apologised...

It appears that the only reference to rape alarms came from a far right group, The English Constitution party.

You'll have to see the tweet...

twitter.com/ProfColinDavis/status/1655555314215780352

Thank you Maizie.

And the most worrying thing, is that it is so so anti-British tradition. The British Police are so well known and admired all over the world for their huge deflection, diffusion, humorous and non aggressive tactics- in comparison to so many other forces.

As said 'It is anti-democratic and it is clear that the police find it very uncomfortable.' - although sadly it will appeal to some members of the Met who have previously been held back.

Most of the people who were arrested were not violent, and did not possess anything more than placards. You may not agree with what the placards said- and neither did I- but this is what Democracy is about, and British Police within it and its magnificent reputation for humorous non-confrontational policing.

British culture’ is irrelevant fp. What matters is the law.

Vague suspicion’? Oh dear. You would I assume have been happy to let these people carry on and see what happened - which could have been pretty bloody.

I have always suspected that a good many protesters are claiming benefits Forsythia. Working people have limited paid annual leave - certainly not enough to permit them to take part in some of the long running disruptive protests - and the protests don’t all take place in school/university holidays.

From what I have seen and read the police did not act indiscriminately. I have heard the excuse for some of the protesters carrying rape alarms. Yeah, right.

Perhaps you should read some legal websites fancythat. There are plenty available. I can also post a link to the new Public Order Act if you wish to read it, though it is totally irrelevant to arrests made at the time of the Coronation.

'Nobody stopped these protesters, nobody confiscated their banners.'

not all were, but far too many were, and on vague suspicion and not for any kind of violent behaviour.

I will take a look at the link MaizieD

Neither am I, and I would not have been there myself. But it is enshrined in British culture and that people are allowed to protest.

fancythat

fancythat

*Is it legal to Protest? Protesting is legal in England and Wales, the right to protest is protected under the European Convention of Human Rights. However, this only applies to peaceful protest and does not extend to any violence inflicted or damage caused during a protest.*

I only got this from google.

It does not mention intent to protest non peacefully.

So what is the legality on that?

Did the people who did get to protest during the proceedings do anything violent or inflict any damage?

There's a long thread on twitter trying to sort out just what happened, though I don't suppose many people will bother to read it.

twitter.com/ProfColinDavis/status/1655555277150732290

And, for the avoidance of doubt, as the assumption has been made on this thread, I am NOT anti monarchist.

Thank goodness there’s those on here that see this action for what it was, to disturb a huge event where everyone watching the procession were there to support the Royal Family.
I feel sorry for the police, they try to avoid trouble but are damned whatever they do, by people who love it.

MaizieD

Germanshepherdsmum

Well said Forsythia. 👏👏👏

You're applauding a post in which the poster seems to have confused the anti monarchy protesters with climate change protestors.

Perhaps she'd like to give an example of the 'violence and fear' that can be proven to be caused by the Republic group, or the climate change protestors. Because I haven't seen any.

Can anyone also explain how a handful of protestors was going to ruin the pleasure of thousands of people?

And can people stop saying the coronation was a 'once in a lifetime' event. It was the second coronation in the lifetime of a great many Gnet posters and, given Charles's age, it's unlikely to be 'once in a lifetime' for many UK citizens...

Fact is I’m not as old as you clearly are so for me it was a once in a lifetime event. I’d never seen one before.

It was stated these individuals were going to set off rape alarms to spook the horses. Utterly unacceptable and dangerous. But in your view, their rights must always trump those of the majority.

Violence and fear. What about the moron recently throwing eggs at the King? Jolly japes eh? But it could have been worse couldn’t it. Who’s to know.

Today, people trying to take their kids to school in London are prevented from doing so because of more of these mindless protestors. Yes, a different lot but still equally selfish and moronic. Still, their rights are more important than kids trying to get to school, taxpayers trying to get to work.

If they’re on benefits, which I suspect they are as they never seem to work, they should be stopped immediately. I’m not funding their cretinous behaviour through my taxes.

fancythat

*Is it legal to Protest? Protesting is legal in England and Wales, the right to protest is protected under the European Convention of Human Rights. However, this only applies to peaceful protest and does not extend to any violence inflicted or damage caused during a protest.*

I only got this from google.

It does not mention intent to protest non peacefully.

So what is the legality on that?

I expect you have also read s31 wwm. The Sec of State may only issue guidance to the police under s30 about serious disruption orders (see s20 et seq) if that guidance has been approved by parliament and not otherwise.

Germanshepherdsmum

Thanks maddyone.
I share your amazement.

I didnt realise that you were a criminal lawyer!? Of course if you aren’t I am sure you will have the grace to admit that your knowledge of the law is no more or less than any one else’s.

Many of us in our working lives operated under, worked with and imposuk law, and are very familier with the legal language , so it is no hardship reading legislation.

Whitewavemark2

Germanshepherdsmum

It was based on suspicion of what they intended to do, which was not peaceful protest.

Have you read the legislation? I have and see no ‘mess’. It’s a sensible extension of powers to deal with the damage and disruption that some protesters cause.

“Mess” isn’t my word it is the chief constable’s and a Tory MP.

The police were in talks with those arrested months before the coronation, everyone had signed off content with what was going to happen.

There was a call from the HO, how else can you explain the total cock up, and subsequent apology from the police. The police acted without any recourse to law. The republicans had broken no law.

All that needs to happen now is for the police to make up a criminal act snd we will truly be in the realms of authoritarianism.

You do seem a teensy bit obsessed with the Home Office.
So many comments about it on this thread and you’ve made up your mind that they’re the guilty party.
You don’t know any more than me if there was a call from the HO to police saying to arrest anyone. The police decided to act and remove six protesters.The rest went on their merry way, calling out and waving placards.

I couldn’t give a toss about Braverman, I’m more concerned that everyone stayed safe, and mostly they did. Except for the unfortunate bandsman who was badly injured when a horse was spooked.

Bearing in mind the massive demands placed on the security services in responding to the unique challenge which monitoring all aspects of the Coronation presented, I would have been much more impressed if those who wished to protest had acknowledged that their planned activities around the ceremonial on the day posed a significant distraction to those who were involved in keeping everyone safe, and had therefore acted responsibly and arranged to have an entirely separate protest somewhere else, or perhaps on a different date. As a Republican myself, I would have felt much more comfortable with that. It must have been a security nightmare, and any diversion always presented risks.

Oh I meant to say

Have you read the legislation? I have and see no ‘mess’. It’s a sensible extension of powers to deal with the damage and disruption that some protesters cause

Yes I have which is why I suspect that Braverman has interfered with operational decisions.
Part 2 subsection 30.

Thanks maddyone.
I share your amazement.

And since GSM is a lawyer, I respect her opinion on the subject. She has read the legislation. How many of the others who are protesting this action have actually read the legislation?
I’m actually amazed that people are defending the actions of the protesters. Paint, rape alarms, and glue were not taken along for the purposes of peaceful protest. They were taken along in order to cause chaos and injury.

Plenty of protesters were free to protest so I don't know what all the fuss is about TBH.

Germanshepherdsmum

It was based on suspicion of what they intended to do, which was not peaceful protest.

Have you read the legislation? I have and see no ‘mess’. It’s a sensible extension of powers to deal with the damage and disruption that some protesters cause.

“Mess” isn’t my word it is the chief constable’s and a Tory MP.

The police were in talks with those arrested months before the coronation, everyone had signed off content with what was going to happen.

There was a call from the HO, how else can you explain the total cock up, and subsequent apology from the police. The police acted without any recourse to law. The republicans had broken no law.

All that needs to happen now is for the police to make up a criminal act snd we will truly be in the realms of authoritarianism.

It was based on suspicion of what they intended to do, which was not peaceful protest.

Have you read the legislation? I have and see no ‘mess’. It’s a sensible extension of powers to deal with the damage and disruption that some protesters cause.